Illuminating device for burning wax.



P. DESTEFANI. ILLUMINATING DEVIGE FOR BURNING WAX. APPLIGATION FILEDJAN. 27, 1908.

958,235; Patented May 17, 1910.

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HH USU UNITED STATES PATENT FFT@E.

PAUL DESTEFANI, OF JOI-IANNESBURG, TRANSVAAL, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TOTHE NEW TRANSVAAL CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED, OF JOI-IANNESBTJ'RG, TRANS-VAAL.

ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR BURNING WAX.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL DESTEFANI, a subject of the King of Italy, andresident of Johannesburg, Transvaal, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Illuminating Devices for Burning Wax, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a means or device for burning paraffin wax,stearin, tallow or other liquefiable and inflammable grease, fat, or oilor suitable product thereof, for illuminating and other purposes. Theinflammable material is most conveniently used in the form of a solid.

The invention has been primarily designed for the use of miners or otherunderground workers as a substitute for candles or other illuminants,although it may be employed for any other purpose for which it may befound applicable.

The device consists essentially of a cylindrical or other suitablyshaped casing adapted to receive the parafiin wax or other liquefiableand inflammable material, and a wick holder constructed to provide apassage or passages from the casing to the wick along which the meltedinflammable ma terial may pass to the wick for combustion. Theinflammable material, hereinafter referred to as wax, is liquefied bythe heat conducted to the casing or casing cover or both, by those partsproviding the passage from the casing to the wick. A valve is preferablyprovided for regulating or controlling the supply of the wax to thewick, as required, and the wick holder is preferably constructed withone or more projections in proximity to the flame for conducting theheat to the casing cover to melt the wax. A reservoir for the melted waxis preferably provided in the passages leading from the casing to thewick. The wick holder is preferably so constructed that it can be placedin a vertical position irrespective of the position of the casing. Aspring positioned in the casing beneath the cylinder or block of wax,serves for advancing the wax to provide a continuous supply as it isconsumed, and also for forcing the melted wax along or through thepassages leading from the casing to the Wick.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 27, 1908.

Patented May 17, 1914). Serial No. 412,873.

The invention will be described in detail by aid of the accompanyingdrawing, in which Figure 1 illustrates the casing in elevation, and wickholder in sectional elevation. Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation ofthe casing and wick holder on a plane indicated by the dotted line w-min Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the wick holder, detached, andtaken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 2. Fig. 4c is a plan of thering 23, detached. Fig. 5 is a part sectional elevation of a modifiedform of the wick holder. Fig. 6 is an elevation of a handle and supportfor the device, and Fig. 7 is a plan of Fig. 6.

The device comprises the preferably cylindrical and hollow casing 1,which may, as shown, be conveniently constructed of two parts. To theone part is screwed, soldered or otherwise suitably attached acylindrical piece or band 2 in which are provided slots 3 adapted to beengaged by pins or projections 4 provided on the other part, todetachably connect the two parts. The one end of the casing 1 may, asshown, be constructed to provide a chamber or space 5 to serve as aholder for a supply of wicks for use with the apparatus. This end of thecasing 1 may be closed by means of a cap or cover (3 provided with slots7 engaging pins or projections 8 011 the end of the casing.

Inside the lower end of the casing 1 is suitably fixed a disk ordiaphragm 10. To this diaphragm 10 is fixed one end of a coiled spring11, which, as hereinafter explained, serves to advance the block of waxas it is consumed. This connection is shown comprising a disk 12soldered or otherwise suitably attached to the end of the spring, ascrew -threaded pin 13 which projects through holes in the disks 10, 12,and the retaining nuts 14. To the other extremity of the spring 11 isattached a disk 15 which operates as a piston inside the casing 1 and isadapted to engage the inner or lower end of the piece of wax 16. Thispiston 15 may be conveniently constructed of leather, rubher, or othersuitable material. It is attached to the end of the spring 11 by meansof plate 17 soldered or otherwise fixed to the spring, and the pin 18formed with a head which, as shown, may be countersunk in the disk 15,and a split pin 19 or equivalent engaging a hole through the pin nextthe plate 17. A chain 20 is preferably provided attached at the one endto the pin 13 and at the other end to the pin 18, for limiting themovement of the piston 15 inside the casing. In Fig. 2 the chain 20 isshown taut and the spring 11 at its maximum degree of expansion. Thisinsures that a small portion of the piece of wax 16 remains in thecasing 1 in a solid form and prevents the melted wax passing into thecasing 1 below the piston 15. \Vhen the parts as sume the position shownin Fig. 2 then a further piece of wax is inserted in the easing 1 abovethe piston 15, the spring being thereby placed in compression to advancethe wax as it is consumed. lVhen semi-solid or thick oils etcetera areused, then the piston 15 is necessarily made with a sliding fit insidethe casing so as to prevent the passage of the oil between the casingand the piston.

The wick holder is screwed, soldered or otherwise suitably attached toa. suitably thin metal disk 21 which is detachably connected to thecasing 1 by the following means. The end of the casing 1 is formed withan external annular flange 22 and around the end of the casing isarranged a ring 23 shown in Fig. 1. This ring 23 is formed internallywith four (more or less) pins or projections 24 which are adapted toengage the underside of the flange 22 and prevent the transmission oftoo much heat to the casing 1. This ring 23 is constructed with anexternal screw-thread and with a preferably milled flange 25. On the topof the flange 22 is arranged a leather or other suitable resilientwasher or packing ring 26, next which is placed the disk 21 carrying thewick holder. 27 is a nut or cap which adapted to screw over theexteriorly threaded portion of the ring 23 to fix these several parts tothe casing flange 22. The piece of wax 16 is forced into contact withthe inside of the disk 21 by the spring 11.. hen the device is in usethe disk 21 is sulficiently heated to melt the wax.

The wick holder, in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises theburner consisting of the curved tube 28 formed in one piece with orsuitably attached to a cylindrical piece 29 which constitutes areservoir for the melted wax and from which reservoir the wax passesthrough an aperture 30 to the wick 31. The wick tube 28 is constructedwith a boss 32 formed with a screwthreaded hole in alinement with theaperture 30' between the reservoir 29 and tube 28. 33 is a screw-valve,which as shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to regulate the supply of melted waxto the wick 31. The handle 34: of the valve 33 is preferably constructedwith holes 35 and fitted in the rim with a coiled wire 36 to prevent itbecoming too hot to be conveniently handled. The cylindrical member 29is constructed (see Fig. 2) with a flange portion 37 which fits acylindrical recess in a part 38 formed in one piece with or attached toa vertical tubular member 39 which is screwed, soldered or otherwisesuitably attached to the disk 21. The flange 37 is revoluble in therecess and is retained in position therein by means of a ring 10 fixedby screws 11 to the part 38 in which the recess is provided. The flange37 is constructed with a conical projection fitting a conical hole 13 inthe part 38. The tube 39 which serves for conducting the melted wax fromthe casing 1 to the reservoir 29 is formed with projections 44 whichserve for conducting heat to the wax 16. The melted wax passes from saidtubular member 39 through the conical hole 43 and through a hole in thecenter of the flange 37 to the reservoir 29. The burner 45 is providedwith two (more or less) upwardly and outwardly curved projections 46which being in close proximity to the flame become heated, the heatbeing conducted through the several parts of the wick holder to the disk21 to melt the wax.

In the modified form of wick holder illustrated in Fig. 5, the tube 4:7fixed to the disk 21 is formed or connected with an exteriorly conedpart 18 which constitutes the reservoir, and the tube 19 constitutingthe burner is formed with an internally coned part 50 which is adaptedto fit over and rotate upon the coned part 48. The melted wax passesfrom the tube 17 to the interior of the cone 48 through the hole 51 andfrom the interior of the cone through holes 52 and coincident holesformed in the member 50 to the curved wick tube 4:9. The outer cone 50is rotatably connected to the inner cone 18 by means of nut 55 andwasher 56 engaging a screw-threaded projection 57 formed upon or fixedto the inner cone a8.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show a contrivanc which may be used either forcarrying the device by hand or for supporting it on a convenientstationary or movable object. This contrivance consists of a blade 58,which as shown, is preferably pointed so that it may penetrate a crevicein the rock or a mine prop or other timber, and a hook 59 for hanging itfrom any convenient support". The blade 58 is constructed with a squareprojection (30 adapted to engage a square hole provided in a socket 61fixed to the casing. This contrivance may be constructed as shown toprovide both hook 59 and blade 58 or with either the hook or the bladeas desired.

The wick 31, as shown in Fig. 1, is of a sufficient length to project tothe bottom of the wick tube 28 and to extend sufficiently far above thetube. It is made of any ordinary material employed for making candlewicks, or of other suitable material. It is saturated and coated withwax or other suitable material, and is preferably treated before the waxis applied with a solution of acetic acid and water (in approximatelyequal quantities) or other suitable liquid to prevent it carbonizing tooquickly or getting hard and brittle.

In using the device the piece of wax 16 having been placed in the casing1 and the wick 31 in the wick tube 28, the wick is ignited and thecasing inverted so as to direct the heat on to the wick holder andeasing cover to heat these parts sufficiently to melt the surface of thewax. It is only necessary for the device to be inverted a very shorttime to accomplish this. The supply of melted wax is then continuous assufficient heat is conducted to the disk 21 and top of the casing 1through the parts in which are formed the wax supply passages. Thecasing 1 may be placed in either a horizontal or vertical position or inany intermediate position and the wick tube 28 be rotated to maintainthe wick vertical.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a wick holder connected to the casing, a wick in said holder,said holder having a passage leading from the casing to the wick, avalve for regulating the supply of the inflammable material through saidpassage and means for forcing the inflammable material from the casingto the wick.

2. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a cover for said casing, a wick holder connected to saidcover, a wick in said holder, said holder having a wick space and apassage leading from the casing to said wick space, and serving toconduct heat from the flame to the inflammable material, and means formaintaining the inflammable material in contact with the cover and forforcing the inflammable material when liquefied through the said passageto the wick.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a cover for said casing, a wick holder connected to saidcover, a wick in said holder, said holder having a passage leading fromthe casing to said wick and constituting means for conducting heat fromthe flame to the inflammable material, means for maintaining theinflammable material in contact with the cover and for forcing it whenliquefied through the passage to the wick, and a valve for regulatingthe supply of combustible liquid through said passage.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a cover for said casing, a wick, and a wick holder rotatablyconnected to said cover, said holder having a passage leading from thecasing to the wick, and in which passage the whole of the wick isarranged, the holder also constituting means for conducting heat fromthe flame to the inflammable material, and means for forcing theliquefied inflammable material from the casin to the wick.

5. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a wick, and a wick holder connected to said casing, saidholder having a passage leading from the casing to the wick, and inwhich passage the whole of the wick is arranged, a reservoir in saidpassage from which the inflammable material passes directly to the wick,a valve in the passage for controlling the supply of inflammablematerial to the wick, and means for forcing the inflammable materialfrom the casing to the wick.

6. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a wick, and a wick holder comprising a movable wick tube orburner and a reservoir from which the inflammable material passesdirectly to the wick, said holder having a passage for the inflammablematerial leading from the casing to the reservoir.

7. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a wick, and a wick holder comprising a movable curved wicktube or burner and a reservoir from which the inflammable materialpasses directly to the wick, said holder having a passage for theinflammable material leading from the casing to the reservoir, a valveattached to the wick holder for controlling the supply of inflammablematerial to the wick, and means for forcing the inflammable materialfrom the casing to the wick.

8. In a device of the kind described, a casing for inflammable material,a wick, and a wick holder comprising a tubular member fixed to and incommunication with said casing, a wick tube or burner rotatably attachedto said tubular member, and a valt e for controlling the supply ofcombustible material to the wick, the whole of the wick being arrangedin said tube or burner.

9. In a device of the kind described, a casing for inflammable material,a wick, and a wick holder comprising a tubular member fixed to and incommunication with said casing, a wick tube or burner rotatably attachedto said tubular member, and a valve for controlling the supply ofcombustible material to the wick, the whole of the wick being arrangedin said tube or burner, and

the wick tube or burner having projections which serve for conductingheat to the inflammable material in the casing.

10. A device of the kind described comprising a casing for inflammablematerial, a wick, and a wick holder comprising a stationary tubularmember aflixed to and in communication with said casing and a movablewick tube or burner attached to said stationary tubular member, saidwick tube or burner having a chamber which serves as a reservoir for theinflammable material, the part forming the reservoir being constructedwith a flange portion fitting a recess provided in the stationarytubular member, and a ring for revolnbly retaining said flange insaidrecess.

11. A device of the kind described comprising an externally flangedcasing for i11- flammable material, a wick, and a wick holder connectedto said casing and having a passage leading from the casing to the wick,and means for detachably fixing the wick holder to said casingcomprising a thin disk, a ring adapted to engage the external flange onthe casing and a cap having screw-threaded engagement with the ring andengaging the disk aforesaid.

12. A device of the kind described comprising an externally flangedcasing for inflammable material, a wick, and a wick holder connected tosaid casing and having a passage leading from the casing to the wick,means for detachably fixing the wick holder to said casing comprising athin disk, a ring constructed with projections adapted to engage theexternal flange on the casing, and a cap having screw-threadedengagement with the ring and engaging the disk aforesaid, and packingbetween the disk and casing.

13. A device of the kind described comprising an externally flangedcasing for inflammable material, constructed in two separable parts, awick, and a wick holder comprising a fixed part and a rotatable part ofburner, a removable cover for one end of the casing, a disk fixed withinthe casing, a spring within the casing, means for attaching the springto the aforementioned disk, a chain for limiting the movement of saidspring, a disk fixed to the other end of the spring, and forming apiston within the casing for feeding the inflammable material to thewick, a removable disk forming a cover for the other end of the casingabove the inflammable material, a ring adapted to engage the flange onthe end of said casing and a nut screwed to said ring for securing thedisk on the end of the casing, the fixed part of the wick holder beingattached to said disk and said fixed and rotatable parts having passagesleading from the casing to the wick, and a valve attached to the wickholder for regulating the supply of inflammable material to the wick.

In witness whereof I have hereunto se my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses; this llth day of December, 1907.

PAUL DESTEFANI.

Witnesses:

CHAS. OVENDALE, R. OVENDALE.

